frequency
Other forms: frequencies
Frequency measures how often things repeat over time. City buses often reach stops at a frequency of every 15 minutes, unless it's snowing or raining really hard. In that case, the frequency will slow.
You probably know the word frequent, a synonym for often. So, it is tempting to think frequency describes something that happens often. However, this isn't true: frequency describes any rate of time at which something repeats. For example, from Earth, Halley's Comet is visible at a frequency of 76 years — it's not frequent, but it is on schedule.
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the number of occurrences within a given time period“the frequency of modulation was 40 cycles per second”“the frequency of his seizures increased as he grew older”types:radio frequencyan electromagnetic wave frequency between audio and infraredinfrared, infrared frequencythe infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum; electromagnetic wave frequencies below the visible rangewave numberthe reciprocal of the wavelength of a waveattendancethe frequency with which a person is presentsampling frequency(telecommunication) the frequency of sampling a continuously varying signalstationthe frequency assigned to a broadcasting stationrydberg, rydberg constant, rydberg unita wave number characteristic of the wave spectrum of each elementNyquist frequency(telecommunication) twice the maximum frequency occurring in the transmitted signaltype of:ratea magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
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the number of observations in a given statistical categorysynonyms: absolute frequencytype of:cardinal, cardinal numberthe number of elements in a mathematical set; denotes a quantity but not the order
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the ratio of the number of observations in a statistical category to the total number of observationssynonyms: relative frequency
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Vocabulary lists containing frequency
Word Generation Science is a program combining vocabulary with a multidisciplinary discussion of various science topics. Here are links to the word lists for Word Generation Science: Scientific Thinking, Preparing a Scientific Investigation, Measurement, Life Science, Energy, Introductory Chemistry Concepts.
Review this list and wave goodbye to any confusion you might have about waves. Learn about types of waves, wave properties like amplitude and frequency, and different kinds of wave motion, including reflection, refraction, and diffraction. You're sure to make waves once you master these words.